Individual table.



N M. G. SHANNON.

INDIVIDUAL TABLE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 19, 1909.

Patented July 26, 1910.

2 SHBBTSSHEET 1.

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witm eao w M. G. SHANNON. INDIVIDUAL TABLE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 19, 1909.

965,414. Patented July 26, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"Ii iii J/Z. kaizfld z IVIABEL C. SHANNON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

INDIVIDUAL TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 19, 1909.

Patented July 26, 1910. Serial No. 513,654.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MABEL C. SHANNON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Individual Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furniture and has particular reference to a table of a foldable nature.

The object of this invention is to provide a small table which can be attached to a chair or the like and which may be conveniently folded awaiting use and quickly and easily removed from said chair when necessary, the operation of the folding being readily and quickly effected by reason of the simplicity in the construction of the evice.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a table which is rigid and capable of supporting vessels containing liquid and the like without endangering the spilling of the contents of the vessels, and one, which owing to size, shape and light ness of weight, makes it easily portable in quantities.

For a further understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair having the improved table applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective .view of the table in an extended position, Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same, Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the table in a folded position, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the improved table in an extended position, Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the table in a folded position, Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the means for attaching the table to the chair, and Fig. 8 is a modified form of the table support.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a shank which supports the improved table and which is secured to a chair 11, any support being adapted for retaining the shank 10, the shank 10 being secured upon the chair by means of a strap 12 which is secured to the lower face of the chair seat 11 and through which is extended the flattened lower extremity 13 of the shank 10. The strap 12 is provided with a set-screw 14 carrying a winged nut 15 at its upper end which is engaged through the strap 12 and impinged against the flattened portion 13 of the shank 10. The shank 10 is extended upwardly from the seat of the chair 11 at one side thereof, and terminates at its upper extremity in the fork arms 16 to which the improved table is secured.

The table comprises a metal plate 17 of a substantially rectangular formation which is provided with an upstanding flange 18 about the outer edges thereof and upon which is disposed a board 19, forming a section of the top of the table. The plate 17 is provided along its inner edge with a cutaway portion 20 in which is positioned an arm 21 formed with a flange 22 adapted to extend in alinement with the flange 18 formed about the plate 17 when the arm 21 is in an extended position. The arm 21 is supported upon the plate 17 by the provision of a hinged member 23 which is formed of a strip of metal, bent longitudinally to provide a reinforcing flange to add strength to the hinged member .23, which is pivotally secured against the underside of the plate 17 through the medium of a bolt 2 1 or the like. One end of the hinged member 23 extends outwardly beyond the plate 17 and is secured upon the inner end of the arm 21 against its under face in order to dispose the upper side of the arm flush with the upper face of the plate 17.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 of the drawings that when the arm 21 is folded inwardly the outer extremity of the same terminates in the recessed portion 20 a distance inwardly from the opposite edge of the plate 17. The opposite edge of the plate 17 is provided with a lug 25 which supports in pivotal relation a second hinged member 26, carrying an arm 27 which is of like formation to the arm 21 and is provided with an upstanding flange 28 which is disposed in alinement with the flange 18 of the plate 1.7 when the arm 27 is in an extended position. From Fig. 1 it is apparent that the arm 27, when folded inwardly, will engage against the outward edge of the arm 21, owing to the position of the lug 25 which disposes the pivotal point of the hinged member 26 outwardly from the inner edge of the plate 17.

The board 19 is provided with hinges 29 having their pivotal portions disposed in the upper edge of the board 19 and to which is secured a second section or board 30, forming the top of the table. The section 30 is in like manner provided with hinges 31 which serve as a means for supporting a third section 32, the hinges 31 being so disposed as to position the pivotal portion of the same at the lower edge of the section 30. A fourth or outer section 33 is provided, which is secured to the section 32 through the medium of a third pair of hinges 3 1 so disposed as to position the pivotal portion of the same at the upper edges of the adjacent portions of the sections 32 and 33. The sections which compose the top of the table are formed of substantially the same size and are supported when extended upon the arms 21 and 27.

The upper faces of the sections of the top lie flush with the upper edges of the flanges 18, 22 and 28 formed upon the plate 17 and the arms 21 and 27. After the arms 21 and 27 are formed with flanges 22 and 28 they are prevented from outward movement by the abutting of the flanges 18 and 22 and 27 to thereby form a rigid support for the table sections and to prevent any lateral strain being exerted upon the several hinges which support the same.

The shank 10 which carries the fork arm 16 is secured to the plate 17 by the flattening of the fork arms 16 and curving same inwardly in spaced relation upon the under side of the plate 17. The fork arms are secured to the plate 17 in any suitable manner but preferably by bolts or rivets 35.

In Fig. 8 is disclosed a modified form of the supporting means and the shank, the same consisting substantially of the bending of the flattened portion 36 of the shank 37 whereby the flattened portion 36 is extended in direct alinement with the shank 37 to enable the positioning of the strap 38 against the side of the chair, as disclosed.

The strap 12 is secured beneath the chair seat, or the like to which the table is thereby secured, when the flattened portion 13 is engaged under the strap and secured therein by tightening the setscrew 1 1. The arm 27 is now swung outwardly from the plate 17 when the arm 21 is permitted to have a like movement. The sections 19, 30, 32 and 33 are now unfolded and extended to rest upon the arms 21 and 27 and to thereby form the table top. hen it is desired to fold the table to economize space, the section 33 1s swung upwardly and over upon the section 32 when the section 30 is raised and folded beneath section 32, when the section 30 is engaged upon the board 19 by reason of such action and owing to the relativepositioning of the hinges 29 and 31. It lsreadlly seen that the sections are thus supported one upon the other, as disclosed in Fig. 6, when the arms 21 and 27 are swung inwardly to fold the table into compact form.

It will be noted from the construction of the table that it is especially adapted for caterers use in so much that it is light and can be folded into compact form thereby permitting of the carrying of the same in large quantities together with the chairs usually employed by caterers.

The improved table will be found especially useful at sociables where buffet luncheons are served as at teas, wedding receptions or the like, as they occupy but small space when extended and form a convenient means for supporting small dishes upon a substantial base.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A device as specified, including a shank for attachment to a support, said shank having laterally extending forked arms at its upper end, a flanged plate secured to said arms, flanged arms pivoted to said plate, the

flanges on the plate and arms when the arms are swung outward being in ahnement and a plurality of hinged table sections supportedby said plate and flanged arms.

2. A device as specified, including a flanged plate, supporting means for said plate, flanged arms pivoted in offset relation at one edge of said plate, said arms adapted to swing outward to dispose the flanges thereon in alinement with the flanges on said plate, and a plurality of hinged'table sections supported on said plate and adapted to fold outwardly upon said arms when ex tended.

3. A device as specified, including a plate having flanges at the ends and at one side of the same, supporting means for said plate, a pair of flanged arms pivoted in offset relation at the free edge of said plate, said arms adapted to swing outwardly to dispose the flanges thereof in alinement with the flanges at the sides of said plate, and a plurality of hinged table sections supported on said plate and said arms to lie flush with the upper edges of said flanges.

41. A device as specified including a shank having forked arms laterally extending from the upper end thereof, and having a flattened lower extremity, a strap for engagement upon a support adapted to receive the lower flattened extremity of said shank, a tions carried by said plate and adapted to flanged plate disposed upon the forked arms, be unfolded to rest upon said arms. 10 a. pair of flanged arms pivoted to one edge In testimony whereof I aflix my signature of said plate at the opposite ends of the in presence of two witnesses.

5 same, and in offset relation, said arms adapt- MABEL O. SHANNON. [L. s.]

ed to swing outwardly to dispose the flanges Witnesses: thereof in alinement with the flanges of said CHAS. B. BEERY,

plate, and a plurality of hinged table sec- MAUDE I. SHANNON. 

